BBC News: Youth crime drive has 'no impact'

A decade-long government drive to cut youth offending has had "no measurable impact", an independent study suggests.

Criminologists at King's College London said success in targeting youth crime was far more mixed and ambiguous than ministers liked to claim.

The team said youth crime spending was up a massive 45% on 2000 - but every reoffending target had been missed.

The Youth Justice Board said an official independent audit showed the reforms had delivered big improvements.

One of Labour's first major acts after coming to power was to reform the system for tackling youth crime with former prime minister Tony Blair pledging to be tough on the causes of crime. Read more
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